Grocery shoppers don’t like to spend much time waiting in line. They want to purchase their groceries quickly and go home. But small grocery stores, which cannot always afford the capital expenditures required for the latest technology, frequently use dial-up point-of-sale communications to handle debit and credit card transactions. That can translate into slower service and queuing up of customers at the checkout.

In Brazil, Rede Smart, a Martins Group Company and the country’s largest grocery store chain, is solving that problem with its deployment of the HughesNet Managed Network service to its 930 grocery stores nationwide. In the first phase, the project will connect 300 stores via HughesNet broadband satellite service, enabling rapid processing of online debit and credit card transactions. In the second phase of the project, the remaining stores will be connected through HughesNet, and additional valueadded applications will be supported, including distance learning for store employees, live video distribution throughout the entire network, and back-office systems. Rede Smart plans to integrate all 930 stores during 2008.

According to Luiz Henrique Abrantes Escobar, managing director for the company, the project offers particular benefits to smaller retailers. “Rede Smart has invested in logistics technology and infrastructure to enable small retailers to be competitive. Standalone store technology can be expensive, but being part of a large network gives retailers greater purchasing power and advanced technology becomes affordable.”

“Our HughesNet broadband service will provide a unified telecommunications network for all Rede Smart stores throughout Brazil, with the same advanced technology platform and high quality of service regardless of store size,” said Rafael Guimarães, marketing director, Hughes do Brasil.

That means happier customers getting food on the table faster in Brazil. Smart move.